[Nettime-bold] Interviews: First Impressions...

[Belinda Byers <belinda.byers@execs-direct.com>]

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     Make that First Impression the Best Impression!

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Article: Make that First Impression the Best Impression!

Your resume matches the job description to perfection.  It's
the job of your dreams.  The phone rings and it's a 
recruiter scheduling an interview. Now what?   Remember, 
he's already seen your resume.  What's next?  That First 
Impression.  First impressions really are the ones that 
count.  

Most people develop that first impression within the first
five minutes of meeting someone new.  So, what do you do to
stand out from the crowd?  

First of all, be prepared. Research the company. Practice
answering typical interview questions with a friend, a 
family member or a career counselor.  Decide in advance
what you're going to wear. No matter how casual the company,
dress to impress. Even consider taking a trip to the 
interview site so you'll know exactly where you're going 
and how long it will take to get there.


Everything You Need to Know
----------------------------

You need to know as much about the company as possible. Go
online and visit the company's web site.  URL's for large
employers will typically be www.company.com. If that doesn't
work, use a search engine to look for the company name. 
Also check Vault.com and Wetfeet.com for company 
information.  Read all the related information you can find.
Become familiar with the top executives, the company mission
statement, markets, operations and offices. Know the products
or services the firm provides and know the competition.  
During the interview interject what you know when the 
opportunity arises.  Showing that you have researched the 
company will definitely count in your favor.

If you are a college alumnus or soon-to-be college graduate
check with the career office at your university and ask if 
they can put you in touch with alumni employed by the company
for an informational consultation.  You may be able to get 
some "insider" information and even a recommendation.  Also,
check with your career office to see if they conduct mock 
interviews. If so, typically, you'll dress up as though you 
were going on a "real" interview and the session will be 
videotaped so you can see how you did.  State employment
offices are another source of interviewing assistance and
public libraries often offer career workshops.  If all else
fails, recruit a family member or friend to help with 
practice interviewing.

Once you are comfortable answering questions, generate a 
list of questions so you'll be ready when the interviewer 
asks what you want to know about the job and the company.  
When it is your turn, remember that asking questions is 
critically important to show your interest in the company
and the position.  Your questions are also another way to
show what homework you've done about the company.

Try on your interview clothes a day or so ahead of time.
So, you can make last minute adjustments. Be conservative
in both attire and presentation.  Nose rings, spiked hair, 
stilettos or cowboy boots don't make the best impression on
the average interviewer! Make sure your hair style, makeup
and jewelry enhance your appearance rather than detract from
it. Avoid perfume or cologne.  Polish your shoes and make 
sure your clothes are neat and tidy.


Be Prepared
-----------

Arrive with a business-like portfolio which includes extra
copies of your resume, a pad and a pen.  Bring a list of at
least three references including name, job title, company, 
phone number and email address for each reference. Have 
these reference ready in case the interviewer requests them.

Give yourself plenty of time to get to the interview.  Arrive
at least five minutes prior to your scheduled interview time.
If you're not sure where the company is located do a trial 
run so you will know exactly how to get to the office. Time 
the trip and if necessary, allow yourself extra of time to 
get there. Rushing can cause those pre-interview jitters!

Even those of us who have interviewed more times than we can
count still get the jitters. It's perfectly normal to be 
nervous, after all, you are in a new situation, a strange 
location and you're about to get quizzed on who you are and 
what you know.  That said, do your best to stay calm and 
answer the questions honestly, and to the best of your 
ability. 

Again, don't forget your pertinent questions. After the 
interview, ask for a business card so you'll have contact 
information to use for a follow-up. Also, respectfully ask 
when you might expect to hear about a second interview or 
a hiring decision. Say thank you to everyone, receptionist
included. Manners do matter!

Finally, send a thank you letter to everyone you met with. 
If time is of the essence, use e-mail to send a quick thank
you note, but don't forget to follow-up with a hard copy. 
Sometimes, it's the little things mean a lot and help you 
stand out from the competition!

============================================================

This article sponsored by:

ResumeRabbit.com - Multiply your chance of getting a job! 

Get instant and massive resume exposure! ResumeRabbit.com 
will instantly post your resume to over 80 career sites 
like Monster, Hot Jobs, CareerBuilder, Dice & more!
Then you'll be seen by over 1.5 million employers &  
recruiters daily. Their simple online form takes only 15 
minutes and saves over 60 hours of research and data entry! 

Try ResumeRabbit at http://start.resumerabbit.com  

============================================================

And Also by: 

ResumeMailman.com - Get your Resume to 1000's of recruiters!

Instantly put your resume directly into the hands of 1000's
of America's VERY BEST recruiters - in YOUR selected areas,
specializing in YOUR selected skill sets.  Our recruiters
have connections to tons of unadvertised jobs. And the whole
thing can be done in about 10 minutes. You can even get a
confidential email address with your order AND receive a 
contact list of the recruiters who received your resume! 

Try ResumeMailman at http://www.resumemailman.com 

============================================================

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